As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
tonysaunders wrote:Pascal Cygan was French player of the year before he signed for us, remember?
I think Smoothie, and a few others, are missing the point. Big Phil has come in for a bit of stick on this site because of making horrendous mistake after horrendous mistake. Every Gooner I speak to in person thinks the same; he scares the shit out of us whenever he plays, and if you play a ball over his head, he's fucked! However, Smoothie (and others) seem to think that Big Phil isn't getting the recognition he deserves for his recent performances. This couldn't be further from the truth. I think most people on here have recognised that he's been playing well recently - but just because he's had 4 or 5 good games doesn't mean that, all of a sudden, his mistakes have been forgotten and that he's now fulfilling his destiny and becoming the new Tony Adams.
He isn't a great player, and I'd argue that he isn't a very good one, either. I have nothing against him personally, but I still get really nervous whenever he turns out for us. As I've shown with Ade, I'm willing to admit when I'm wrong, but Big Phil has only played a handful of decent games for us this season. Things need to be kept in perspective.
To be fair to the bloke, he has done well when he has got a run in the team for some time. Maybe thats a sign that we should play him more often? He has played quite a few pressure matches in his time for us. The whole Champion's league, 2005 FA cup final, Chelsea away last season. You will find a lot of clean sheets in those games. How come those games dont get mentioned but his performance over a couple of games against Drogba does? I think it has more to do with our mentality than him to be honest.
couldnt agree more some people are just to quick to slag Senderos off
the guy is playing well and he should be praised not ridiculed
tonysaunders wrote:Pascal Cygan was French player of the year before he signed for us, remember?
I think Smoothie, and a few others, are missing the point. Big Phil has come in for a bit of stick on this site because of making horrendous mistake after horrendous mistake. Every Gooner I speak to in person thinks the same; he scares the shit out of us whenever he plays, and if you play a ball over his head, he's fucked! However, Smoothie (and others) seem to think that Big Phil isn't getting the recognition he deserves for his recent performances. This couldn't be further from the truth. I think most people on here have recognised that he's been playing well recently - but just because he's had 4 or 5 good games doesn't mean that, all of a sudden, his mistakes have been forgotten and that he's now fulfilling his destiny and becoming the new Tony Adams.
He isn't a great player, and I'd argue that he isn't a very good one, either. I have nothing against him personally, but I still get really nervous whenever he turns out for us. As I've shown with Ade, I'm willing to admit when I'm wrong, but Big Phil has only played a handful of decent games for us this season. Things need to be kept in perspective.
To be fair to the bloke, he has done well when he has got a run in the team for some time. Maybe thats a sign that we should play him more often? He has played quite a few pressure matches in his time for us. The whole Champion's league, 2005 FA cup final, Chelsea away last season. You will find a lot of clean sheets in those games. How come those games dont get mentioned but his performance over a couple of games against Drogba does? I think it has more to do with our mentality than him to be honest.
Are you joking? That post is so one sided, it isn't even funny! That makes out that Big Phil has been some sort of rock and because of a few bad performances against Chelsea, he is now cursed forever with an unfortunate reputation! I watch Arsenal week in, week out and I know what I see in front of me. I will admit when a player is playing well, and I will admit when he is not playing well. Clean sheets in those games you mentioned are partly down to Big Phil, admittedly, and he should be praised for being part of that team. But, I have seen more very concerning performances from him than I have seen solid ones. I, and numerous, numerous Arsenal fans are not making up this whole thing about him being useless. Where do think it has all come from? Some kind of conspiracy theory? Christ on a bike...
tonysaunders wrote:Pascal Cygan was French player of the year before he signed for us, remember?
I think Smoothie, and a few others, are missing the point. Big Phil has come in for a bit of stick on this site because of making horrendous mistake after horrendous mistake. Every Gooner I speak to in person thinks the same; he scares the shit out of us whenever he plays, and if you play a ball over his head, he's fucked! However, Smoothie (and others) seem to think that Big Phil isn't getting the recognition he deserves for his recent performances. This couldn't be further from the truth. I think most people on here have recognised that he's been playing well recently - but just because he's had 4 or 5 good games doesn't mean that, all of a sudden, his mistakes have been forgotten and that he's now fulfilling his destiny and becoming the new Tony Adams.
He isn't a great player, and I'd argue that he isn't a very good one, either. I have nothing against him personally, but I still get really nervous whenever he turns out for us. As I've shown with Ade, I'm willing to admit when I'm wrong, but Big Phil has only played a handful of decent games for us this season. Things need to be kept in perspective.
To be fair to the bloke, he has done well when he has got a run in the team for some time. Maybe thats a sign that we should play him more often? He has played quite a few pressure matches in his time for us. The whole Champion's league, 2005 FA cup final, Chelsea away last season. You will find a lot of clean sheets in those games. How come those games dont get mentioned but his performance over a couple of games against Drogba does? I think it has more to do with our mentality than him to be honest.
couldnt agree more some people are just to quick to slag Senderos off
the guy is playing well and he should be praised not ridiculed
YOU'RE MISSING THE POINT!!!
Who is saying he hasn't been playing well recently? Answer me that.
I appreciate the Phil is not, and will never be the best player. I think he's a lot better than most people give him credit for but that's just my opinion.
But in regards to the thread, does the captain of a team have to be the best player? I don't think so. Being a great player does not mean mean being a great captain, as anyone who saw Henry captain us will know. This thread is about Phil being a captain and I see no reason why he shouldn't. As already stated, he has all the qualities needed, and displays them for us whether he is captaining the side like in the CC or in any other match. I don't know too much about the Swiss national side so can't say if they have a better choice or not, but I'm not at all surprised that Phil has been given it. Good luck to him.
tonysaunders wrote:Pascal Cygan was French player of the year before he signed for us, remember?
I think Smoothie, and a few others, are missing the point. Big Phil has come in for a bit of stick on this site because of making horrendous mistake after horrendous mistake. Every Gooner I speak to in person thinks the same; he scares the shit out of us whenever he plays, and if you play a ball over his head, he's fucked! However, Smoothie (and others) seem to think that Big Phil isn't getting the recognition he deserves for his recent performances. This couldn't be further from the truth. I think most people on here have recognised that he's been playing well recently - but just because he's had 4 or 5 good games doesn't mean that, all of a sudden, his mistakes have been forgotten and that he's now fulfilling his destiny and becoming the new Tony Adams.
He isn't a great player, and I'd argue that he isn't a very good one, either. I have nothing against him personally, but I still get really nervous whenever he turns out for us. As I've shown with Ade, I'm willing to admit when I'm wrong, but Big Phil has only played a handful of decent games for us this season. Things need to be kept in perspective.
To be fair to the bloke, he has done well when he has got a run in the team for some time. Maybe thats a sign that we should play him more often? He has played quite a few pressure matches in his time for us. The whole Champion's league, 2005 FA cup final, Chelsea away last season. You will find a lot of clean sheets in those games. How come those games dont get mentioned but his performance over a couple of games against Drogba does? I think it has more to do with our mentality than him to be honest.
Are you joking? That post is so one sided, it isn't even funny! That makes out that Big Phil has been some sort of rock and because of a few bad performances against Chelsea, he is now cursed forever with an unfortunate reputation! I watch Arsenal week in, week out and I know what I see in front of me. I will admit when a player is playing well, and I will admit when he is not playing well. Clean sheets in those games you mentioned are partly down to Big Phil, admittedly, and he should be praised for being part of that team. But, I have seen more very concerning performances from him than I have seen solid ones. I, and numerous, numerous Arsenal fans are not making up this whole thing about him being useless. Where do think it has all come from? Some kind of conspiracy theory? Christ on a bike...
What part of that post sounded like a joke to you? And dont even talk about one sidedness, are you saying people slagging him for his "poor performances", yet not mentioning the good (and plenty of it) he has done is not one sided?
And I see Arsenal week in week out too, maybe not in the stadium like you but I do. I dont think theres some sort of conspiracy against him, but i do believe people seem to make up their mind pretty quickly about certain players and its hard to change their mind over them, unless you do something phenomenal like Ade (still thats not good enough for certain people). I think many Arsenal fans (as with any other top club) have been spoiled with the quality of players they have seen playing in red and white. The truth is we are as likely to conceede with Gallas and Toure playing as a partnership as we are with having Senderos partnering one of them.
Gunnerz4life wrote:The truth is we are as likely to conceede with Gallas and Toure playing as a partnership as we are with having Senderos partnering one of them.
You really think that? So by that logic, you'd happily have Big Phil in the starting line up and have either Gallas or Kolo as third choice, right?
A lot of manure fans will tell you Wes Brown is useless and mistake prone, yet he features in red nose's squad season in season out. And lets not even say anything like thats not our problem because thats reality. No team has a world class player as a third choice centre back. Senderos is as good as any in that role.
Oh, and just so we’re clear. Your arguments are one sided because you seem to always overlook that Big Phil has put in countless pathetically awful displays for us (on a par with Cygan) and only seem to focus on the Champions League run a few years ago. Whereas I recognise that and say he should be praised for being part of that team (TEAM – he didn’t keep the clean sheets all by himself. It just so happens his being in the team coincided with the best form of Lehmann’s career…), but I still think that his performances last season and this (apart from the last couple of weeks) have been simply awful. It takes more than a couple of decent displays against a weak City and Newcastle front line to pull the wool over my eyes, I’m afraid. I couldn’t give a toss what he’s done for Switzerland; all I care about is what he does for Arsenal – and in my time watching them, his pathetic displays outweigh his solid ones.
Gunnerz4life wrote:The truth is we are as likely to conceede with Gallas and Toure playing as a partnership as we are with having Senderos partnering one of them.
You really think that? So by that logic, you'd happily have Big Phil in the starting line up and have either Gallas or Kolo as third choice, right?
I am definitely for giving Big Phil more starts yes. The problem is Gallas and Toure as individual players are world class and its impossible for Arsene to play Phil ahead of either of them if they are fit. But Gallas and Toure as a partnership just doesnt work for me and we have let in quite a few goals when they have played together. Id like Arsene to stick with Senderos even when Kolo comes back from the AFC, specially if he keeps being solid. Even Kolo doesnt expect to be walking back into the side.
Gunnerz4life wrote:A lot of manure fans will tell you Wes Brown is useless and mistake prone, yet he features in red nose's squad season in season out. And lets not even say anything like thats not our problem because thats reality. No team has a world class player as a third choice centre back. Senderos is as good as any in that role.
Nobody is saying world class Gunnerz4life........we are saying Arsenal class!
As for you weird logic that you freely admit he is third choice but are happy to see him play infront of either of the first and second choice then I give you this based on the same logic.........
Would you have been happy seeing Colin Pates play ahead of an available and fit Tony Adams?
